Point of View

The story of "The Invention of Morel" is told by the protagonist who remains nameless throughout the tale. He is a fugitive from justice. The reader does not know what crime he allegedly committed but he is wanted by Venezuelan authorities. When in Calcutta, an Italian rug merchant suggests he flee to the abandoned island of Villings. When the man arrives there, he finds several large buildings but no people. The protagonist seems to be well-educated from his vocabulary and thought processes. The reader learns the man is a writer—he is writing about his experiences in a diary. At one point, because of the intrinsic risks in the island, he wonders if the diary he is writing is actually a will. He also comments that he plans to write two books.

When people suddenly appear on the island, the author's presentation leaves the reader...